UK Roundup

Scudamore says Premier League hit by reality check

LONDON (Reuters) -- The Premier League has enjoyed a decade of fantastic growth but "hyperinflationary" wages mean the English game is now suffering a reality check, the league's chief said on Wednesday.

Match attendances and television viewing figures are still healthy, chief executive Richard Scudamore told talkSport radio on Wednesday, but: "It's ridiculous to not acknowledge that the hyperinflationary days probably are behind us.

"The steam is coming out of wage inflation which I think is good for the whole game and there is a reality check setting in," he said.

That was not to say revenue from broadcasting rights would fall. "We have had this 10 years of fantastic success and fantastic growth and we don't see why that success should not continue."

Pay-TV firm ITV Digital collapsed last year, cutting off a major source of revenue for lower division clubs. BSkyB has the live rights to Premier League matches until the end of the 2003/4 season.

Asked if the league's attraction was diminished by there being only a handful of realistic candidates for the title, Scudamore said spectator figures would suggest otherwise.

"Of course I'd like 20 different clubs to win it 20 years in a row, similarly I want it to go to the last game of the season. For all that I don't think it lacks any excitement."

In 10 seasons, the English Premier League has only once been won by a team other than Manchester United or current leaders Arsenal. Blackburn won in 1995.

Liverpool's Berger to move on at end of season

LONDON (Reuters) -- Liverpool's longest-serving player, Czech midfielder Patrik Berger, says he expects to leave the Premier League club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

"My contract expires in five months and so I have to do something," the former Czech international told Liverpool's Web site on Wednesday.

"I should be fit to play 90 minutes by the end of March, but after that there are only six weeks until the end of the season. I don't think anything will change at that time. I think that at the end of the season I'll be going.

"If I'm not going to be playing then there's not much point in staying here. It would be better for me to go somewhere else."

Berger, 29, joined Liverpool for 3.25 million pounds (US$5.35 million) from Borussia Dortmund in 1996, but has only been involved in three games this season -- a far cry from 1999-2000, when he scored 15 times. Last season he scored just once, beset by knee and groin problems.

Berger said he would have used the Premier League's January transfer window to jump ship, had he not been recovering from a knee injury.

Of his time at Liverpool he said: "I can't say my Liverpool career has been great. Nor can I say it has been bad. I've had good times, I've had bad times.

"There is not a player left from when I came. I thought players like Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman would stay at Liverpool forever.

"Actually I have been through everything since I have been at Liverpool. Whatever you can experience, I have experienced."

Viduka appeals against Gillingham sending-off

LONDON (Reuters) -- Leeds United striker Mark Viduka has appealed against his dismissal for violent conduct in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round game against Gillingham.

The Australian was red-carded in the 81st-minute of the 1-1 draw after catching Gillingham's player-manager Andy Hessenthaler on the head with his elbow.

Viduka faces a mandatory three-match ban but the English Football Association said on its official Web site on Wednesday it had received "a claim for wrongful dismissal" from the striker.

The FA said its Video Advisory Panel would now consider the claim.

Gilberto will miss FA Cup showdown

LONDON (Reuters) -- Midfielder Gilberto Silva will miss Arsenal's FA Cup fifth round tie at Manchester United on February 15 after being named in Brazil's squad for a friendly in China due to take place three days earlier.

"We are not happy but there is nothing we can do about it," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday.

"We are powerless to prevent him from going. There is no way that I can consider him for the Manchester United game."

Arsenal are the FA Cup holders, having beaten London rivals Chelsea 2-0 in last year's final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

World champions Brazil's match in China is their first for 2003 as they prepare for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, which are expected to begin in August.

Varga's Sunderland contract is terminated

SUNDERLAND, England (Reuters) -- Slovakian international Stanislav Varga has left Sunderland after agreeing to have his contract terminated, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday.

Varga joined Sunderland for 875,000 pounds ($1.44 million) from Slovan Bratislava in July 2000 but the 30-year-old central defender made just 33 appearances for the Wearside club who are fighting against relegation.

A spokeswoman for Sunderland said: "The club has negotiated with Varga, whose contract was originally due to expire in 2004, and both parties have agreed to the termination of his contract with immediate effect.

"Sunderland would like to wish Stan all the very best for his future."

Varga, capped six times by Slovakia, was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion last season and has figured just three times for manager Howard Wilkinson this season -- twice in the league and also in the FA Cup victory over Bolton earlier this month.

He scored one goal for Sunderland in a 2-0 win at West Ham United in January 2001.

Roeder says Kanoute, Di Canio fit for Blackburn

LONDON (Reuters) -- Captain Paolo Di Canio and strike partner Frederic Kanoute will return to spearhead bottom-placed West Ham's attack for the first time since September for Wednesday's Premier League game against Blackburn.

Frenchman Kanoute, West Ham's top scorer last season, picked up a groin injury in September, while a leg injury has kept Di Canio out for nearly two months.

Under-fire manager Glenn Roeder said on the club's Web site: "To have Di Canio and Kanoute...fully fit for the game is just the sort of boost that we all needed. It is excellent news and has given the whole squad a lift."

West Ham boast the worst defensive record of any premier league club this season with 47 goals conceded -- six more than next-poorest Bolton.

If Di Canio and Kanoute help West Ham beat Blackburn, it will be the Hammers' first Premier League win at Upton Park this season.

Before the match they had 17 points and just three wins from 24 Premier League games this season but victory would take them above Sunderland, who lost 1-0 to Southampton on Tuesday, in the 20-strong table.

Second-from-bottom West Brom also play on Wednesday against Charlton at the Hawthorns.

Portsmouth signs Sherwood to boost promotion hopes

LONDON (Reuters) -- English first division leaders Portsmouth have signed unsettled Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tim Sherwood until the end of the season.

Portsmouth's official Web site said on Wednesday the club had completed the deal after a long pursuit of Sherwood, who has not played for Tottenham this season.

"At this stage of the season in our present position he is quite a catch," the Web site quoted chief executive Peter Storrie as saying.

"Tim is a box to box player and it does not need anyone to promote his record and how valuable he is to us," said Storrie.

Sherwood, 34 next week, has three England caps and won a Premier League winners' medal with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, the only major honor of his career.

Portsmouth, who are two points clear at the top of division one, said in a statement they would only pay Spurs a fee for Sherwood if the club is promoted to the Premier League in May.

Wenger to Eriksson: Use 'common sense'

LONDON (AP) -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is asking England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to exercise "common sense" in picking a lineup for next month's friendly against Australia.

The Feb. 12 match at Upton Park in east London comes just a few days before two key matches for both Arsenal and Manchester United.

Arsenal and Man United square off against each other in the fifth round of the FA Cup on the weekend of Feb. 15-16. A few days later England's two biggest teams resume play in the European Champions League.

"Obviously it's Sven's choice and he will want to pick his best squad. I cannot expect him to leave out all his best players," Wenger said. "You cannot expect him to leave out the Arsenal players and not the Manchester United players, or leave out the United players but not those from Arsenal.

"They all face a physically demanding time in the coming weeks and all you hope is that he uses common sense when picking his squad."

Coventry wants Collins

LONDON (AP) -- Coventry would like to have the services of veteran Scottish midfielder John Collins, but the first-division team may not be able to afford him.

Collins, a 34-year-old former Glasgow Celtic and Monaco star, has been on the bench at Fulham. But manager Jean Tigana seems unwilling to release him.

Coventry has been negotiating with Fulham about the percentage of Collins' salary it can afford. His agent Raymond Sparkes hopes to work out a deal before the transfer deadline on Friday.

"I spoke to John this morning," Sparkes said Wednesday. "He has expressed an interest in going and is running out of patience. It could still happen but it's not likely. And if things continue as they are, it won't happen."

"My experience is that people take up pretty strong positions when negotiating, but as it gets closer to the deadline, somebody usually relents at the last minute. So sense could prevail at the 11th hour."

FA seeks Henchoz, Warnock explanations

LONDON (AP) -- The Football Association has called on Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz and Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock to explain their sides of the story after a spitting incident at the end of last week's League Cup semifinal at Anfield.

An angry Warnock had to be restrained from getting to Henchoz after the final whistle, accusing the Swiss international defender of spitting at him. Henchoz, whose team won 2-0 to advance to the final against Manchester United, admits spitting but on the ground rather than at the Blades manager.

The FA will await replies before deciding whether to take any disciplinary action.

Birmingham's Purse has more surgery

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- Birmingham City central defender Darren Purse has had more surgery on his ankle.

Purse had hoped to return to action in Saturday's Premier League game at Bolton after missing the last seven games. But his ankle has become infected and needed a second operation.

It is a setback for Blues manager Steve Bruce, who had been looking to partner Purse with new signing Matthew Upson and Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham.

Cunningham has stepped up his rehabilitation after suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester United on Dec. 28 and could return against Bolton.

 

Related information

Stories

UK: Liverpool boss confident Dudek will respond Lampard lifts Blues over Leeds; Villa beats Boro English League and Team Pages

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.